Apparatus for transferring liquid from one container to another



` L. K. PITMAN APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LIQUID FROM ONE CONTAINER TO ANOTHER 2 SHEETS-SI-IEET 1 Filed Oct. 3, 1945 blur INVENTOR 'oulsjf Pz man BY l MTORNEY Feb. 5, 1952 L.. K. PITMAN APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LIQUID FROM ONE CONTAINER TO ANOTHER 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 3, 1945 Patented Feb. 5, 1952 APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LIQUID FROM ONE CONTAINER TO ANOTHER Louis K. Pitman, `New York, N. Y. Application October 3, 1945, Serial No. 620,111

8 Claims.

One use of the device is in transferring water or solvent from one bottle to another bottle containing penicillin in powder form, the advantage of the device being that the transfer may be made when the penicillin is to be used, as it is not desirable to mix the powder with the liquid long before use.

An object of this invention is tofprovide a simple apparatus of the character described which will transfer liquid from one bottle to another rapidly while maintaining sterility because no outside air enters the bottles during transfer.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character described including a clamp adapted to engageV the necks of two bottles for maintaining the bottles in opposed relation, said clamp having handle means so positioned that both clamps may be opened at the same time, said clamps being furthermore adjustable to permit regulation of the bottles toward and away from each other.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bottle provided with a cap having a thin diaphragm at the top and at the side so that a hypodermic needle may be inserted into the bottle either through the top diaphragm or through the side diaphragm.

Still another object of this invention is to provide, in apparatus of the character described a hypodermic needle removably assembled so as to permit replacement thereof in case of breakage.

Still another object of this invention is to provide, in apparatus of the character described, a

`hypodermic needle so attached to the needle holder as to permit exing or bending of the needle without breakage.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a neat, compact and durable apparatusof the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, and yet practical and eiiicient to a high degree 1n use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplii'led in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention: y

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention for transferring liquid from one bottle to another;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view through the axes of the bottles;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the bottle clamps;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4-'4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view showing apparatus embodying the invention and illustrating a modified form of cap for the bottles;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial Vcross-sectional View taken through the axes of the bottles;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of part of the transfer apparatus illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 and illustrating yet another modified construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, IU designates an upper bottle, I I a lower bottle, and numeral I 2, apparatus for transferring liuuld from the upper bottle to the lower bottle. The apparatus I2 comprises a clamp I3 for supporting the bottles I0 and II in opposed relation, a transfer mechanism I4 interconnecting the bottles, in the manner hereinafter appearing, and a hypodermic svringe I 5 connected to the mechanism I4 for eiiecting the transfer. Each of the bottles I Il and I I has a cap 2n provided with a diaphragm 2l adapted to be pierced by a hvpodermic needle.

The clamp I3 comprises a Wall bracket 23 hav ing flanges 24 contacting the wall and formed with openings to receive screws 25y for attaching the bracket to said wall. Extending from flanges 24 are side walls 26 disposed at right angles thereto and interconnected by a web 21. Web 21 -is formed with a cutout or opening 28. Mounted on the wall bracket 23 is a bracket member 30 comprising a flat plate 3| adapted to be inserted through opening 28 and thus slidably moved downwardly so as to be disposed between the web 21 and the wall to which the bracket is attached. Extending from the upper end of 4plate 3l is a horizontal arm 32. Integrally formed with the latter is a vertical rod 3114 having an upwardly extending arm 35 and a downwardly extending arm 36. Rotatably mounted on arm-35 is a rod 31 formed with an eye 38 at one end to receive .said arm. A set screw 40 serves to fix the rod 31 in vertically and angularly adjusted positions. At the outer end of rod 3l is a pivot pin il to which are pivoted a pair of similar, symmetrically disposed spring clamps t2. Each clamp l2 has a curved portion 43 adapted to engage the neck of the bottle and rearwardly and downwardly extending handle M. Disposed about pivot pin 4I and engaging the handles i4 is a torsion spring 45 adapted to normally separate the handles so that portions i3 will resiliently clamp the neck of the bottle. Rotatably mounted on the lower end of ar 36 is a bottle clamp member similar to the clamp 31, 42 but symmetrically disposed thereto. The handles i4 of the lower clamping member therefore extend upwardly toward the handles le of the upper clamp member. With such construction, the handles 44 of the two clamp members are located close to each other and may be pressed together simultaneously so as to release vthe bottles. It will'be noted that the upper clamp cylindrical wall 53 is a tubular stem 5s provided with a flaring mouth 55. The lower wall 52 is formed with a through opening Extending into said opening 56 and xed therein is the upper end of a tubular hypodermic needle 5l.

Needle4 5l exten-ds downwardly from chamber 5t.

It is formed with an intermediate hole or openlng 58 for Vthe purpose hereinafter appearing. The upper wall 5| is formed with a through opening 59. Extending therethrough is a hypodermic needle thinner than needle 5l. The needle Sli is xed within opening 59. The upper end of said needle 60 is pointed as at 52. Said'needle 60 extends through the chamber 5t and passes into the thicker needle 51 in concentric, spaced relation thereto. The lower end G4 of needle 6b is preferably disposed below opening 58 but above the lower pointed end 51a of needle 5l.

The hypodermic syringe l5 comprises a barrel vformed with the usual tapered tip l! which is inserted into the ilaring opening 55 of stem 54. Within the barrel 1l! is a usual plunger l2.

The transfer of liquid'from the upper bottle lil to the lower bottle l I will now be described. The thick needle 51 is pushed into the lower empty bottle through the diaphragm 2l of its cap si?. The upper end of needle 5e is pushed through the diaphragm 2l of the cap 2li of the upper bottle. The plunger l?. is pushed forwardly to closed position. and then the tip 'H is inserted into opening 55. Liquid Ais in the upper bottle and is to be transferred to the lower bottle which is empty. The'plunger l2 is then pulled out gently to draw air from the lower bottle through the opening 58, through the chamber 5l), and into the syringe, thereby creating a partial vacuum or lreducing pressure in the lower bottle, and caus ing liquid in the upper bottle to flow through the thin needle into the lower bottle. The plunger is then pushed to cause 'air inY the syringe to pass through the chamber 50 and up through the thin needleto the upper bottle. Air is thus transferred from the lower bottle to the upper bottle and liquid from the upper bottle to the lower bottle.

The procedure is repeated until all the liquid is transferred from the upper bottle to the lower vthrough the side diaphragms 32.

bottle. The advantages of the above described apparatus is simplicity and rapidity of manipulation. Furthermore, sterility is maintained because no outside air enters during the transfer.

in Figs. 6 and '7 there is shown a modified construction o bottle cap. The bottle caps 20a shown in Figs. 6 and '7 may be made of rubber and each comprises a cylindrical Wall 'Sil which may be attached to the neck of the bottle in any suitable manner. The cylindrical wall may thus be formed with an annular groove 8l to receive the upper end of the bottle neck. The cylindrical wall Se is formed with a thin diaphragm 82 at one side. Said bottle cap is also formed with a thin diaphragm 33 at the top. With such construction, the needles may be inserted either through the top diaphragme 33 or the side diaphragms @2. Thus in Figs. 6 and 7 the mechanism i4 is shown applied by piercing the needles The needles are thus in horizontal position and the bottles may be supported by the same clamp or holder as shown in Fig. 1.

ln Fig. 8 there is shown a modified form of transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism ida shown in Fig. 8 is similar to transfer mechanism Mi except as described hereinafter. The mechanism Ilia comprises a chamber a formed with a bottom wall 52a, similar to chamber Eil, and its wall 52, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Wall 52a however is formed with a tubular projection 85 having an externally screw threaded portion 86. Extending from portion 85 is a tapered portion el'. Mounted on said portion 81 is a hypodermic needle 51h. The needle 5'lb has, at its base, a :daring or tapered portion @El contacting the external surface of the tapered portion 8l and complementary thereto.

.ii/leans is provided to releasably attach the needle Bib to the tapered portion El. To this end there is screwed onto the threaded portion 55% a sleeve @i having an internally tapered portion Q2 contacting the daring portion et of the needle for pressing the same against said tapered lportion 8l'. It will now be understood that should the needle break it may be easily replaced by a new needle.

In Fig. 9 there is shown a still further modified form of transfer mechanism. In Fig. 9 there is shown transfer mechanism ith comprising a chamber Sie?) having a wall 52h. Extending from wall is a tubular hub portion 93 formed at its outer end with a reduced portion @d provided with an outwardly flaring mouth 95'. Inserted into the reduced portion @il is the lower or base end of a needle Sie. The lower end of the needle is swedged to the reduced portion 94. Flexing or bending of the needle is permitted due to the outwardly daring mouth 95.

The surgeon is confronted with a problem for it is net uncommon for the needle to break during an injection. The break is usually in the area where the needle is swedged to the hub. This area is the weakest portion of the needle due to pressure exerted on that area during swedging. Removing the broken needle from the tissue is a problem and very often the cause for law suits. IThe construction shown in Fig. 9 is applicable to hypcde1.-ic needles used for injections and with such construction when the needle is accidentally bent the flare Will brace the needle so that the needle will bend but not break.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various Ypossible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Y

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device for transferring liquid from one vessel to another comprising a chamber, means on the chamber to receive the nozzle of a syringe, said chamber having a pair of opposite walls, one of said opposite walls having an opening, a relatively thick hollow needle attached to said wall and said chamber and extending therefrom and having one end fixed within said opening, said needle having a pointed outer end, the other of said walls being formed with an opening aligned with` the rst opening, and a relatively thin hollow needle passing through the opening in said other wall, and being xed to said wall and having a portion traversing the chamber, and a, portion projecting into said relatively thick needle in spaced concentric relation thereto, and said relatively thin needle having a portion projecting away from said chamber in a direction opposite to the relatively thick needle, and being formed with a pointed outer end.

2. A device for transferring liquid from one vessel to another comprising a chamber, means on the chamber to receive the nozzle of a syringe, said chamber having a pair of opposite walls, one of said opposite walls having an opening, a relatively thick hollow needle attached to said wall and said chamber and extending therefrom and having one end fixed within said opening, said needle having a pointed outer end, the other of said walls being formed with an opening aligned with the first opening, and a relatively thin hollow needle passing through the opening in said other wall, and being iixed to said wall and having a portion traversing the chamber, and a portion projecting into said relatively thick needle in spaced concentric relation thereto, and said relatively thin needle having a portion projecting away from said chamber in a direction opposite to the relatively thick needle, and being formed with a pointed outer end, said relatively thick needle having an opening located between the outer end of the portion of the thin needle which projects into the thick needle and the rst mentioned wall of said chamber.

3. A device of the character described comprising a rigid chamber having a pair of opposed walls and being formed with a tubular stem, means on said stem to receive the nozzle of a syringe, one of said walls being formed with an opening, a relatively thick hypodermic needle having its base end projecting into said opening and fixedto said wall, said needle extending from said wall and having a pointed outer end, the opposite wall of said chamber being formed with a through opening, a relatively thin hollow needle extending through said opening and fixed to said wall and having a portion extending away from the chamber in the direction opposite to the thick needle, said thin needle having a portion passing through said chamber and passing into the thick needle in spaced concentric relation thereto, sai thin needle having a pointed outer end.

4. A device of the character described comprising a rigid chamber having a pair of opposed walls and being formed with a tubular stem, means on said stem to receive the nozzle of a syringe, one of said walls being formed with an opening, a relatively thick hypodermic needle having its base end projecting into said opening and fixed to said wall, said needle extending from said wall and having a pointed outer end, the opposite wall of said chamber being formed with a through opening, a relatively thin hollow needle extending through said opening and fixed to said wall and having a portion extending away from the chamber in the direction opposite to the thick needle, said thin needle having a portion passing through said chamber and passing into the thick needle in spaced concentric relation thereto, said thin needle having a pointed outer end, said thick needle being formed with an opening located between the end of the portion of the thin needle which projects into the thick needle and the first mentioned wall of said chamber.

5. Apparatus for transferring iiuid from one container to another, each container being provided with a cap, said apparatus comprising a chamber, means on the chamber to receive the nozzle of 'a syringe, a relatively thick hollow needle fixed to a wall of said chamber and extending therefrom and communicating with the chamber and being provided with a pointed outer end to pierce the cap of one container, a relatively thin hollow needle fixed to an opposite wall of said chamber and having a portion extending from said chamber, said portion having a pointed outer end to pierce the cap of the other container, said relatively thin hollow needle having a portion traversing the chamber and projecting into the relatively thick needle in spaced concentric relation thereto, said relatively thick needle having an opening disposed between the end `oit the portion of the thin needle which projects into the thick needle and the first mentioned wall of said chamber, said relatively thick needle projecting beyond the portion of the relatively thin needle which projects thereinto.

6. Apparatus for transferring uid from one container to another, each container being provided with a cap, said apparatus comprising a chamber having a pair of opposite walls, a relatively thick hollow needle iixed to one of said walls and extending therefrom and communicating with the interior of said chamber and being provided with a pointed outer end to pierce the cap of one container, a relatively thin hollow needle fixed to the opposite wall of said chamber and having a portion extending from said chamber and provided with a pointed outer end to pierce the cap `of the other container, said relatively thin needle having a portion traversing the chamber and a portion projecting into the relatively thick needle in spaced relation thereto, said chamber being provided with a hollow stem formed with a tapered opening and a hypodermic syringe comprising a barrel and a tapered needle received in the tapered opening in said stem.

7. Apparatus for transferring fluid from one container to another, each container being provided with a cap, said apparatus comprising a chamber having a pair of opposite walls, a relatively thick hollow needle xed to one of said walls and extending therefrom and communicating with the interior of said chamber and being provided with a pointed outer end to pierce the cap of one container, a relatively thin hollow needle xed to the opposite wall of said chamber and having a, portion extending from said chamber and provided with a pointed' outer end to pierce the cap of the other container, said relatively thin needle having a portion traversing the chamber and a portion projecting into the relatively thick needle in spaced relation thereto, said chamber being provided with a hollow stem formed with a tapered opening and a hypodermic syringe comprising a barrel and a tapered needle received in the tapered opening in said stem, said relatively thick needle extending beyond the `portion of the relatively thin needle which projects thereinto.

8. A device for transferring liquid from one vessel to another comprising a chamber formed with a mouth adapted to receive the nozzle of a valveless, hand pump, a tube communicating with said chamber and extending therefrom in one direction, and a second tube communicating with said chamber and extending therefrom in another direction, and having a portion extending l through the chamber, and a portion projecting into the nrst tube inspaced, concentric relation thereto, said nrst tube having an opening on a portion disposed exteriorly of the chamber, said opening being located between the outer end of LOUIS K. PIIlVIAN.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 639,832 Shearrnan Dec. 26, 1899 1,435,214 Coombs Nov. 14, 1922 1,547,014 Bantel July 21, 1925 1,549,155 Schwab et al Aug. 11, 1925 1,769,941 Miller July 8, 1930 1,842,134 -Waite Jan. 19, 1932 2,034,294 Hein Mar. 17, 1936 2,096,461' Mane et al Oct. 19, 1937 2,192,140 McCreary Feb. 27, 1940 2,193,322 Lozier et al.v Mar. 12, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Y Date Great Britain oct. zo, 1964 

